Lost Highway: "We've met before, haven't we" (Lost Highway (DVD))

Member Name: joncarey9

Product:	Lost Highway (DVD)
Date:	05/08/09 (89 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A cinematic masterpiece

Disadvantages: Very confusing, not everyones tastes

I think the key to enjoying a David Lynch movie is to stick with it and let it consume you, and Lost Highway is no different. If you've seen a Lynch film before you'll know exactly what to expect, utter head spinning craziness from beginning to end. I'm sure so many people have sat down to watch this, only to switch it off after a couple of minutes, I know I was nearly one of those people. To call it confusing would be a huge understatement! Although I found it slightly easier to follow that his 2001 film Mulholland Drive, it's still very heavy going and not for your average popcorn movie fan.

Although there's so much to talk about Lost Highway is an extremely difficult film to review. There's so much I want to say, but I don't want to ruin it, for me it's best to watch a Lynch movie knowing little about it and just let yourself be taken on a journey into this extraordinary directors mind. I will give it a shot though, trying not to spoil the twists and turns too much, but let me just start be saying one thing, go and see Lost Highway! It will blow you away!

Released in 1997 Lost Highway is a film noir inspired surreal thriller with a plot that whilst basically linear would probably best be described as a time loop. I know it's important to give a plot synopsis but that is easier said than done, as you've probably grasped by now Lost Highway's plot is multi-layered and could be interpreted in any way. Whilst it is easy to give an A-to-B summary of events, understanding and analysing the plot is a whole different story. It's probably best to describe the film as being in two parts, the first following a saxophonist called Fred Madison (Bill Pullman) who is accused of murdering his wife Renée (Patricia Arquette), and the second....we'll the second really needs to be seen firsthand, whatever I would say would ruin it and you'd lose half the magic of seeing Lost Highway. Let's just say though that the film deals with actors playing multiple characters and characters morphing into others, and probably even that is giving too much away.

One of the best ways I could describe Lost Highway, and any Lynch film for that matter, would be dream like. The narrative dances around all over the place, there's things happening which will confuse you and very little is explained. But that's what makes it such a brilliant film. David Lynch really is an artist he knows how to gauge a reaction and he does it well. The interpretation of Lost Highway is left up to you, the viewer, he offers no answers. Which bits are real? Is it all a dream? What does this mean?? These are all questions which are left to you to ponder over; questions which you will be asking yourself for days to come.

The acting is first class, Patricia Arquette is engaging and mysterious and has a really stand out performance. But the real highlight for me was Robert Blake in the role of the unnamed 'Mystery Man'. This character was seriously creepy and although not in the film for very long leaves a lasting impression with the viewer, sticking in your memory. As for the sound and camerawork both are excellent as would be expected. Its soundtrack includes all of Lynch's trademark strange industrial sounds and noises which accompany the strange visual experience perfectly. From a technical standpoint there really is little to criticise, it's pretty flawless.


With a runtime of 135 minutes I found it to be perfect length, mainly due to the strength of the screenplay. I could have easily watched more as the plot really is that engaging.

I understand that Lost Highway is not going to be a film everyone will enjoy, without sounding to elitist if you normally watch summer blockbusters you may want to give this a miss, not that I wouldn't think anyone would enjoy it though, if you just stick with it. Lost Highway is one of the great masterpieces of modern times, it really is that good. The film is so haunting it's unreal, providing genuine unease throughout, and in some ways it may be better for the fact that you probably won't understand it on first viewing. This is a complex piece of storytelling that's main strength is that it will keep you guessing and make you want to watch it again, there's still bits which baffle me and that's why I love it so much.

One of the most important lines for me comes at the beginning of the film when the character of Bill says, "I like to remember things my own way...... How I remembered them. Not necessarily the way they happened". I think that line, as well as the very final scene before the credits, are extremely important and may give you a little hint in understanding what's going on.

Main cast includes;
Bill Pullman as Fred Madison
Balthazar Getty as Peter Raymond Dayton
Patricia Arquette as Renée Madison/Alice Wakefield
Robert Blake as Mystery Man
Robert Blake as Dick Laurent/Mr. Eddy
Michael Massee as Andy
Richard Pryor as Arnie

Director: David Lynch
Writers: David Lynch & Barry Gifford
Release Date: 22 August 1997 (UK)
Runtime: 135 minutes
Certification: 18 (Nudity, Sex, Strong Language and Violence)

Summary: A haunting story which will stay with you for a very long time